Today amaranth is regaining popularity - along with the movie, which is also home to Central and South America. The use of amaranth oil is obviously not for nothing that it was used by the ancient Aztecs.

Amaranth oil is produced from the seeds of the two plants, which are members of the genus Amaranthus - Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Another representative of this kind is known to many tailed amaranth, also known as a fox's tail.

Amaranth seeds were used as food Aztecs, and, according to available data, they do not just collect it in the wild, and specially cultivated plants. We know that amaranth seeds are not only an important part of the diet of the Aztecs, but also played a role in religious ceremonies. For example, the seeds are mixed with human blood, and they were made of sculptures that ate during ceremonies. Because amaranth was so closely linked to the beliefs of the Aztecs, it is not surprising that the Spanish conquerors banned its use and burned fields with crops of amaranth.

Currently, in addition to seeds, it is becoming more common amaranth oil, characterized by a pleasant taste and odor, and high concentrations of many nutrients. It is used not only in cooking, but in the production of cosmetics, medicines and some rubber products. The main reason for the amaranth oil is widely used in the industry - its resistance to high and low temperatures.

Benefits and harms of amaranth oil

Amaranth oil is credited with many useful properties, including the ability to improve blood circulation, relieve pain, improve the condition of the skin and, in particular, to fight wrinkles, alleviate the plight of people suffering from diabetes, arthritis, asthma, certain types of allergies, accelerate the healing of burns , to treat skin infections and eczema, stimulate output of mercury and some other toxic substances from the body. It is also considered to be useful for people with a wide range of fungal, bacterial, viral infections, and even for people with HIV / AIDS and cancer. Unfortunately, most of these beneficial properties of amaranth oil is not backed up by scientific evidence. Listed below are the properties which have been confirmed in scientific studies.

• Preventing Lung Cancer

Amaranth oil contained in a substance called squalene can prevent and slow the progression of lung cancer in people who are regularly exposed to smoke with a high concentration of resins (especially in smokers).

• Normalization of blood cholesterol

Daily eating from 0.25 to 0.5 g of squalene (concentration in amaranth oil is 5-6%), it is possible to lower cholesterol, and thereby reduce the development of disorders such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.

• The work of the brain

Substances that are a part of amaranth oil can stimulate brain function, improve memory, and enhance human resistance to emotional stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis .

• The immune system

Squalene effectively strengthens the immune system during periods when the various infectious diseases are particularly common, and thus helps to survive the winter and early spring with little or no disease.

• Skin Health

The use of amaranth oil in food, as well as its external application helps to slow down the aging process of the skin, protect the skin from exposure to sunlight or frost, and normalize the sebaceous glands.

Useful components of amaranth oil

• Oleic acid. This substance belonging to the class of unsaturated fatty acids, can improve metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting   diabetic patients and in patients with elevated cholesterol levels. Moreover, it can prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases in diabetics and in people with disorders of lipid metabolism;
• Linolenic acid is essential fatty acids that can not be produced in the human body, but it is necessary for its normal functioning. The concentration of linoleic acid in amaranth oil is 40-50%. This acid is useful for problems such as acne, allergies, heart disease, mood swings Mood swings in women - bad character or a disease? , Dry skin, fatigue, food intolerance, liver disease, mood swings, osteoarthritis, premenstrual syndrome;
• Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin category. It is a powerful antioxidant Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits And plays an important role in various processes associated with the operation of the human reproductive system. Due to its high concentration of vitamin E in the amaranth oil it is recommended to eat at a variety of gynecological diseases, as well as prostatitis and sexual dysfunction. In addition, vitamin E is very good for your skin, hair and muscle tissue.

Harm amaranth oil

In small quantities, amaranth oil is safe for most people. However, people suffering from pancreatitis, frequent diarrhea or constipation, and to those who have ever been diagnosed with gallstone disease, before use should consult a doctor.

  Tea Tree Oil - This essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? Which, using steam distillation is obtained from the tea tree leaves, or Tea Tree, which grows in Australia. Tea tree is a relative of the eucalyptus, which also belongs to the family myrtle. Pure, undiluted tea tree oil can be purchased at pharmacies and many stores. It is an ingredient of various commercial products - gels, lotions, creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes and shampoos.

Why use tea tree oil?

Tea tree long ago began to be used in folk medicine. The indigenous people of Australia by means of its leaves to treat wounds, burns and infections. They are made of mush leaves and applied to the affected skin.

Terpenoids contained in tea tree oil has antiseptic and antifungal activity. Most of all it substance called terpinen-4-ol - it is believed that it mainly causes the antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil is used to treat the following diseases:

• Acne
• Athlete's foot
• Dander
• Vaginitis
• Thrush
• Periodontal disease
• Furunculosis
• Lice
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Yeast Infection

Tea tree oil, moreover, are widely used as an antiseptic.

Research on the effectiveness of tea tree oil

While clinical studies conducted little action of tea tree oil with the participation of human subjects.

Athlete's foot

In a randomized controlled trial of 158 patients who had such a breach as athlete's foot, gave the 25-percent solution of tea tree oil, a 50% solution of tea tree oil and placebo Placebo - an effective tool for self-hypnosis . After 4 weeks, it was found that tea tree oil is significantly more effective than placebo.

Among the subjects who used 50% solution of oil, completely cured 64% of patients in the placebo group - 31%. 4 people who used tea tree oil, prematurely discontinued participation in the study because they developed dermatitis (it was shortly after the use of oil). Other side effects were observed.

The fungus on toe nails

177 patients participated in the trial in which one group was used twice a day, undiluted tea tree oil, and the other - a one percent solution of clotrimazole (antifungal point). After six months of treatment, it was concluded that the tea tree oil can be as effective as an antifungal agent.

Acne

During the single-blind randomized trial compared the action of the gel with five percent tea tree oil and five percent benzoyl peroxide lotion. The trial was attended by 124 patients with mild to moderate acne. Both groups showed a significant improvement, although the tea tree oil proved to be a less efficient than benzoyl peroxide.

Tea tree oil is beginning to act more slowly, but it gave less side effects. In 79% of the subjects who used benzoyl peroxide, observed side effects such as itching, burning and dryness of the skin. Among those who used the gel with tea tree oil, such side effects were observed much less frequently.

Dander

During clinical studies it was found that the shampoo to five percent solution of tea tree oil for 4 weeks significantly reduced the amount of dandruff Dandruff: where it comes from, and what to do   scalp.

Security

It was recorded three cases in which point the use of products containing tea tree oil, causing breast enlargement in boys. People with hormone-sensitive cancers, as well as pregnant and lactating women should refrain from the use of tea tree oil.

Pure tea tree oil can cause skin irritation, itching and even blisters.

Tea tree oil should not be taken internally, even in small quantities. It may cause a malfunction of the immune system The immune system - how it works? , Diarrhea and potentially fatal central nervous system depression (his signs are increased sleepiness, confusion and coma).

Essential oil extracted from the plant family Myrtaceae Melaleuca alternifolia (this plant is familiar to us under the name "tea tree", although nothing to do with the tea, it does not matter) is tea tree oil. Its name, this plant is obliged discoverer of Australia Cook, a team of sailors who, brewed the leaves of this tree as tea.